Discount calculator
Calculate how much you save and what you pay after a percentage discount. Works for any sale, coupon or promotion.
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How to calculate a discount
Calculating a discount is straightforward. First, convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100. Then multiply the original price by that decimal to find your savings. Finally, subtract the savings from the original price to get the sale price.
- Savings = Original Price × (Discount % ÷ 100)
- Sale Price = Original Price − Savings
For example, a $100 item at 20% off saves you $20, and you pay $80.
Worked example: 30% off a $250 jacket
- Convert the percentage: 30 ÷ 100 = 0.30
- Calculate the savings: $250 × 0.30 = $75
- Sale price: $250 − $75 = $175
A useful shortcut for mental math: 10% of any price is just the decimal point moved one place left ($25 here), so 30% is three of those — $75. This works for any multiple of 10% and gets you close enough to sanity-check a till receipt on the spot.
Sale price by discount percentage
| Original price | 10% off | 20% off | 25% off | 50% off | 70% off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $18.00 | $16.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 | $6.00 |
| $50 | $45.00 | $40.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 | $15.00 |
| $100 | $90.00 | $80.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 | $30.00 |
| $200 | $180.00 | $160.00 | $150.00 | $100.00 | $60.00 |
| $500 | $450.00 | $400.00 | $375.00 | $250.00 | $150.00 |
| $1,000 | $900.00 | $800.00 | $750.00 | $500.00 | $300.00 |
Figuring out the real deal
Not all discounts are created equal. A 50% discount on an already marked-up item might not be as good as 20% off an everyday low price. Compare the final sale price, not just the percentage off, to decide if a deal is genuinely worth it.
Also consider sales tax and shipping costs — a great discount can be eroded by fees. Use our sales tax calculator to see the full picture.
Stacking discounts
Some stores allow you to combine multiple discounts, such as a store-wide sale plus a coupon. Stacked discounts are applied one after another, not added together. For example, 20% off plus an extra 10% off is a combined discount of 28%, not 30%.
To calculate stacked discounts, apply the first discount to the original price, then apply the second discount to the reduced price. The total discount percentage is (1 − (1 − D1) × (1 − D2)) × 100.
What stacked discounts actually add up to
| First discount | Second discount | Looks like | Actually is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 10% | 20% | 19% |
| 20% | 10% | 30% | 28% |
| 20% | 20% | 40% | 36% |
| 30% | 20% | 50% | 44% |
| 50% | 20% | 70% | 60% |
| 50% | 30% | 80% | 65% |
The gap widens as the discounts get larger — "50% off plus an extra 30%" sounds like 80% off but is really 65%, a meaningful difference on an expensive item. The order the discounts are applied in doesn't matter; the result is the same either way.
What this calculator does not include
- Sales tax or VAT — the sale price shown is pre-tax. Run it through our sales tax calculator or VAT calculator for the amount you'll actually pay at checkout.
- Shipping and fees — a strong discount can be wiped out by delivery charges, especially on lower-priced items with a flat shipping fee.
- Whether the "original" price is real — some retailers inflate a reference price before discounting it. Compare the final sale price against other sellers, not against the percentage claimed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a discount?
Multiply the original price by the discount percentage divided by 100, then subtract that amount from the original price. For example, $100 at 20% off: savings = $20, sale price = $80.
What's the difference between % off and $ off?
Percentage off scales with the price — a 50% discount on a $200 item saves $100. A dollar-off amount is fixed — $50 off saves $50 regardless of the price. Which is better depends on the item's price.
How do stacked discounts work?
Stacked discounts are applied sequentially, not added. Two 20% discounts applied one after the other give a total of 36% off (not 40%). Each discount applies to the already-reduced price.
Does the order of stacked discounts matter?
No. Applying 30% then 20% gives exactly the same final price as applying 20% then 30% — 44% off either way, because multiplication is commutative. What does matter is whether a coupon applies before or after tax, which varies by retailer.
Is the sale price shown before or after tax?
Before tax. Sales tax or VAT is added to the discounted price at checkout, so your final amount will be higher than the sale price shown here.
How do I work out what percentage off I got?
Divide the savings by the original price and multiply by 100. If a $250 jacket cost you $175, the savings were $75, so $75 ÷ $250 × 100 = 30% off. Our percentage calculator handles this directly.